Amoch the First Satrap

We have lost so much. Kno w/edge unaccounted. Wisdom deep and broad. People unnumbered. Home. We learned enough to make us complacent, and not enough to humble us. Now we are scattered, brutal/zed and embittered, fractious. And it is my blame, as much as any other’s. Amoch was instrumental in causing the Sin of Dragons. With access to the secret archives of Allreach and Twinrift, she provided Dragon Emperor Undrakar with information crucial to the construction of the Brimstone Gate. The horrors that fol/o wed its opening led her to enter hibernation out of shame. Now she has awoken, still bearing a secret authority, one that could change the fate of the Lizardmen forever. The First Satrap’s role was twofold. Be a trusted advisor of the Dragon Emperor. Control access to the greatest imperial archives – a ceremonial key and belt fastener were the symbols of office. The First Satrap was expected to be a voice of reason, bringing the knowledge and wisdom of the Dragonkin Empire’s historic best and brightest to the imperial court. Amoch was the last of her title, and in her time, was regarded as one of the best in Dragonkin history. She radiated a calm, natural authority that cooled the most tense of discussions, and never was without a word of wisdom or piece of sage advice for any she spoke to. Many a time she served as go-between for rival factions and individuals within the imperial court, soothing the angry, drawing out compromises that ensured stability. In many ways, she was the backbone of Dragon Emperor Undrakar’s reign. This should not have been the case. Amoch hailed from a caste of Lizardmen typically renounced by the rest of their kind for their dwelling in swamps, and the chemicals that secreted from their flesh. But Amoch turned this to advantage. Through careful study and experimentation, she developed methods to turn her venoms into healing elixirs and powerful hallucinogens. These she created for only senior priests, officials, and members of the royal family, to grant them wisdom as well as relief from the burdens of duty. Dragon Emperor Undrakar regularly ‘delved into the mysteries’. When Undrakar pieced together his plan to force passage to Anathraad, to reclaim lragoth from Siroth’s clutches, he came to Amoch, seeking esoteric and arcane knowledge only she might have. Undrakar told no others of this, not even Hierophant Lazarius or his son, Ramantu. Amoch, ever-loyal to the throne, gave the Dragon Emperor what he asked for without condition, even though he admitted he was not telling her everything. Then he asked her for something else. Undrakar asked that, in the event of his plans failing, she proclaim his successor and ensure a smooth transition of power. Though a dark feeling ached in her heart, she acquiesced without question. Undrakar did fail. The great Dragonkin cities of Allreach and Twinrift were destroyed. Amoch was on an academic and diplomatic mission to Aravia at the time, and returned to the devastation, hearing rumor after terrible rumor on the way. There was nothing left. The worst of what Amoch had heard, which she refused to believe, was true. Too stunned to cry, rendered hollow by guilt and shame instantaneously, she gave up all thought of Undrakar’s final request to her. Amoch asked her ship’s captain to take her to her home island. Once there, she sent the vessel away. Finally alone, Amoch took to a deep cave and entered a deeper hibernation. She was awoken, nearly a millennium later, by the Skinwalker Yuzan the Marooned, out of sheer accident. They spoke for hours, or rather, he did, answering questions. He knew little of the world’s history. But he knew the state of the Dragonkin, or the ‘Lizardmen’ as they were now known. There was much Amoch wanted to learn, and much she wanted to do. She remembered Undrakar’s request. The Dragonkin needed a leader. She would find them. Amoch left. She went to Twinrift’s old site, beheld the horror of the Brimstone Gate, saw the depths of evil lreth had fallen into, and the depravity of Velyzar. Finally, she journeyed to the Sorrowlakes, to see what remained of her people. There, Amoch found them broken and stilted. Voices among them called out for a Dragonkin resurgence, such as Chaagur and Quargan the Crowned. Others, such as Krok’mar the Devourer, roared the opposite. To Amoch, all were dangerous fools without the honor, strength, or dignity the title of Dragon Emperor demanded. She would have to earn the people’s trust, and work hard to find and nurture her candidate. Amoch knew they would not be unopposed.